Slat for metallic rolling shutters



April 6 1926'. Y 1,579,839

J. C. RAPER SLAT FOR METALLIC ROLLING SHUTTERS Filed Dec. 29, 1922Patented Apr. 6, I 1 926.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH C. RAPERJOF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY.

SLAT FOR METALLIC ROLLING SHUTTERS.

Application filed December 29, 1922. Serial No. 609,744.

To a whom it may concern.

lie it. known that I, Josrnur G. ltArrzn, a citizen of the U uitcdStates of America, and a resident of Covington, in the county of Kentonand State of Kentucky, have invented a'certain new and usefulImprovement in Slats for Metallic Rolling Shutters, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to metallic rollingshutter slats and its directsubject-matter is a subdivision of an already pending application forpatent, under the Serial No. 518,218.

The prime object of the invention herein 7 is to provide various widthsand lengths of slats with longitudinal angular formations, of what maybe ordinarily or conveniently termed or designated modified-Zcrosssection, between their respective longitudinal edges, for bothstiffness and increased necessary strength, and such longitudinal edgesbeing of corresponding partial-coil or almost full-circle hook-formationand disposed in opposite directions to allow for the required flexibleinterlocking-engagement when the slats are arranged in vertical,parallel series for use in the make-up of an assembled rolling-shutter.The details of structure will be fully hereinafter described inconnection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Figure 1 isa fragmentary perspective 'view of a pair of my lmproved slats shown insuspended flexibly-connected position and as they appear in normal usefor closing a door-way; and Fi ure 2 is a fragmentary erspective View ofa modified form, show- 1ng but a single slat embodying my claim herein.

In the form of slat shown in said Figure 1 the original flat strip ofsheet-metal is bent or flexed along its middle longitudinal line to forma transverse plane rib or practically horizontal ofiset 3 along whose opposite longitudinal edges extend at an inclination from theperpendicular the upper member 4 and the lower member 5 that togetherconstitute the body-portion of the slat and correspond to each other andeach thus disposed at, preferably, an acute-angle to the said ofi'settedplane rib-center 3, and the slat assuming what may be arbitrarily termeda modified-Z structure in crosssection that is quite stiff and strong,as well as somewhat symmetrical, the outer roundcd-corner 3 serving as awater-shed, of considerable advantage in use.

Along the upper edge of the said upperinemhcr {of the body-portion ofthe slat 1 provide a partial curl or coil 6 that corre sponds to thecoil 7 of the lower member 5, but it is disposed in the oppositedirection, with coil 6 disposed toward the outer face of the slat andcoil 7 disposed toward the other or inner face of the slat.

The oppositely-disposed arrangement of the coils 6 and 7 is made toenable the flexible or pivotal interlocking of the slats in vertical,parallel alinement to form the metallic rolling shutter or curtaincontemplated in the use of my slats, the space between the longitudinaledges of such c6ils and the adjacent faces of the members 4 and 5 beingpreferably limited to just sufficient to allow the respective pairs ofcoincident coils 6 and 7 of the slats to be telescoped togetherlengthwise but at the same time not ermitting their disengagement fromthe aces of such coils in'the making-up of the chain or.

series of slats that constitute the completed shutter. Said determinedspace between the edges thereof and the adjacent members 4 and 5 of theslat is also sufiicient for the several slats to freely pivot for theproper flexibility of the completed shutter and is otherwise necessaryfor its easy and compact winding on the customary housing and suspensionroller.

In the modified form of slat, seen in Figure 2, the main middle memberor bodyport-ion 3 is broad and inclined and it has narrow, lateral,extension reverse Z-arm members 4; and 5 along its opposite upper; andlower longitudinal edges, respectively. Vertical, narrow, longitudinalextensions 4" and 5 are further provided on the Z-arm extensions 4 and5, respectivel that then continue to extend onwardly an finally" intothe partial volute coils or open curls 6 and 7, respectively, that areoppositely disposed, and correspond to the coils 6 and 7 of the saidpreferred form seen in Figure 1, and act in the same manner toco-operate with succeeding or progressive slats in the chain or seriesrequired in the formation of the completed shutter.

Both of these forms of slats make a strong, comparatively light andvery-symmetrical device for use in metallic rollingshutters that willnot stretch or expand lengthwise, or otherwise buckle at any pointthereof.

I have shown on each of the two views a vertical dotted line w, as, toindicate the line of draft or pull on the slats when in assembled use,such line passing through the approximate center of the middle orinedlan flexed portion (3 in Fig; 1 and 3" m Fig. 2) of theslats for anequalization of the pull, or a uniform draft on sald middle or medianportion at either side its center and thence through the verticalcenters of the coils ((3 and 7 in Fig. l and (5 and 7 in Fig. 2),whereby the slats are rendered free from pulling out fiat, especiallyalong the said median, flexed, stiffening portion thereof."

I claim: I

1. As an article of manufacture, a slat for metallic rollingfire-shutters comprising an elongated body portion or strip of flatsheetmetal having a substantially horizontal rib section mediallythereof with the upper and lower liquely from the forward and rear endsrespectively of said rib section to cross the vertical axis of thecompleted slat, and oppositely disposed hook-shaped formations arrangedalong the edges of the inclined upper and lower portions.

2. Asian article of manufacture, a slat for metallic rollingfire-shutters comprising an elongated body portion-or strip of flatsheet metal having along its upper 1 and lower longitudinal edgesoppositely disposed open partial-circle formations o'r volutes adaptedfor co-engagement into interlocking hingejoints when coupled in avertical series of such slats, the upper and lower portions of said bodybeing inclined in a relative parallel relation and connected by a rib atthe medial portion of the body.

JOSEPH C. RAPER.

portions of said body extending ob-

